Question: Is It OK for Iran to Waterboard Americans?

Youtube Description: "During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "The Legal Rights of Guantanamo Detainees" this morning, Brigadier General Thomas W. Hartmann, the legal adviser at Guantanamo Bay, repeatedly refused to call the hypothetical waterboarding of an American pilot by the Iranian military torture. "I'm not equipped to answer that question," said Hartmann."
siftbotsays...

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Iran, waterboarding, torture, Geneva Convetions, Obvious' to 'Iran, waterboarding, torture, Geneva Conventions, Obvious' - edited by Issykitty

Chaucersays...

I think the general was saying he is not equipped to give legal advice on torture within the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions. I felt the Senator initially posed the question incorrectly the first time then rephrased it in the next line of questioning.

benimarusays...

What about the fact that the military was instructed BY those in the administration to perform acts such as waterboarding? I think this guy was basically saying "I'm not gonna take the fall for that."

Lindsey needs to sit Dick "Face Blaster" Cheney down and throw the same question at him.

10052says...

Chaucer, if the general in charge of Guantanamo Bay isn't familiar enough with the Geneva Convention to be able to answer what is actually a very straightforward question, then he shouldn't be in the position he's in. Of course, if he actually did know, he probably wouldn't have accepted the job...

Guardian-Xsays...

I've taken basic classes on international law and global politics, and this could easily be the first question on an exam. I don't blame the guy for evading the question, though. You can't get accountability from a guy who's just doing his job, you gotta go after the leaders who send the orders down the chain of command. Even if we got the chance to grill the leaders who are responsible, we'd get a similar response, but at least not with the same motive. Electing honest people will only slow down the "progress" we've made thus far.

twiddlessays...

^ Amen. Legalities aside, you are just as bad as the leaders if you can't admit that what they asked you to do is wrong while testifying before Congress. If you are being deliberately evasive in this situation in order to avoid criticizing your commanders then you don't deserve the uniform. A no response or evasive response from government officials to questions by our elected representatives is not acceptable.

Guardian-Xsays...

I agree that claiming to just be doing your job isn't an excuse to commit crimes against humanity, with Adolf Eichmann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichmann) being the classic 20th century case. The past 8 years have shown us that Congress is limp and generally ineffective in questioning the Executive Branch, even when members who have a backbone resort to hardball questioning (Pat Lahey comes to mind). Congress has even had the chance to take on the leaders, only to get a cordial "Fuck you!" from the Vice President. The reason I said I don't blame this guy is because I expect him and anyone else questioned to lie their heads off or pull the old "I don't recall" nonsense. That's just standard procedure for this administration, and I don't expect things to change for the better until the next election. I can only hope that the next administration, regardless of party alignment, will be fearful of the people and their representatives, rather than doling out the fear themselves. The inability to answer the question in the video is simply the group-think of the government, and it just needs a swift kick in the ass to knock it into a new gear. So, to back-step a shuffle or two, I do find this unacceptable and if any of us peons tried to pull this garbage in court we'd be slapped in irons. I guess I said I don't blame him for being evasive because I have a Pavlovian response to seeing an official being questioned. That's sad...

sirexsays...

"What about the fact that the military was instructed BY those in the administration to perform acts such as waterboarding? I think this guy was basically saying "I'm not gonna take the fall for that.""

thats my impression too.

MINKsays...

all those ribbons and he doesn't understand the Geneva Convention?

FAIL.

It's very simple, you just need to make "avoiding the question" illegal in america, and fire this guy and everyone above him for committing war crimes. Then see what happens.

Solipsysays...

What we all fail to understand is that we're the good guys. When WE torture, we do it only for good reasons! When THEY torture us, they are just being evil barbarians. Now, don't make me have to thumb-screw you people until you finally GET IT. We're the GOOD GUYS!!! Our torture is justified. No one else's is. I think that about sums up the reasoning.

ARRRGGGGGHHHHH, get out of my head, filthy neo-con hypocrites!!!! Just having to write that was some kind of torture...

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